Combination cigarette case and cutter



Dec. 29, 1953 G. THosTENsoN 2,664,091

COMBINATION CIGARETTE CASE AND CUTTER Filed Feb. 15, 1952 Fig.l

l Fig.4

Gilbert Thosfenson JNVENToR.

. 9 BY numm- Mgr@ Patented Dec. 29, -1953 UITED STATES PATENT gOFFICE COIVIBINATION CIGARETTE CASE AND CUTTER Gilbert Thostenson, Renville, Minn.

Application February 15, 1952, Serial N o. 271,782

My invention relates to improvements in pocket cigarette cases and cutters.

By way of premise, many cigarette smokers never smoke an entire cigarette, but only a small portion thereof, usually less than half, and then throw away the major portion of the unsmoked cigarette, which is wasteful and extravagant. Others save the stumps, or butts. However, the smoking of stumps or butts is not as pleasant as smoking previously unsmoked cigarettes. Still others break cigarettes in two and smoke the two parts separately. This practice is not satisfactory, because the parts are not evenly broken at the ends and if smoked at the broken ends, tobacco gets into the mouth, while if lit at the broken ends, such ends do not light and burn evenly.

Having the foregoing in mind, the primary object of my invention is to provide a pocket size cigarette case equipped with means for cutting cigarettes in half evenly and storing the cut off halves for future use so that the smoker may smoke each half with the same pleasure as in smoking a newly lighted whole cigarette, avoid the unpleasant smoking of stumps, or butts, and also avoid the extravagant practice of obtaining a fresh smoke by lighting a whole cigarette for a few puffs each time the smoker desires to smoke and then throwing away the major portion of the cigarette.

Another object is to provide a cigarette case for the foregoing purpose which is equipped for storing of at least a Whole package of whole cigarettes therein, and the cut-off portions, or halves, separately from the whole cigarettes.

Still another object is to provide a cigarette case equipped for the purposes set forth in the foregoing and which is easy to handle in cutting the cigarettes and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects within the purview of my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my improved cigarette case and cutter, in the preferred embodiment thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the container;

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and drawn to a larger scale;

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section taken 1 Claim. (Cl. 131-250) on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 and drawn to a. larger scale; and

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the cutter blade drawn to a larger scale.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, according to my invention, a cigarette case I having a rectangular shape for fitting flat in a pocket. The case I comprises an open top cigarette container 2 and a cover 3 for the container 2 slidably fitting over the same and having a flat top 1l provided with an opening 5 therein adjacent one end and corner of the case I for the insertion of a part of a cigarette therethrough into the container 2.

A vertical transverse partition 6 divides the container 2 into a compartment I of a size for the storage therein of a package of cigarettes 8, and into a smaller storage compartment 9 for cut-off halves, or other portions, of cigarettes cut by means presently to be described.

A manually operative cutter blade I0 is pivoted at one end, as at II, on the under side of the top fi of the cover 3 for swinging in the top portion of the storage compartment 9 across the opening 5 to cut off halves, or other portions, of cigarettes inserted into said compartment 9 through the opening 5. The cutter blade II, as best shown in Figure 3, is pivoted to swing in flat engagement with the top 4 of the cover 3. The other, free end I2 of the cutter blade I0 extends out of the container 2 and cover 3 and is provided with a right angled linger grip or tab I3 for manipulating the same.

In order that the cutter blade may extend out of the container 2 and cover 3, the container 3 1s provided with a recess I4 in the top edge I5 thereof out of which said blade I0 extends and which accommodates said blade therein so that the top 4 of the cover 3 may t flat against the top of the container 2. The cover 3 is provided with a horizontal slot I6 at the before mentioned corner of the case I out of which the cutter blade I0 extends, the ends of said slot limiting swinging movement of said cutter blade.

The operation and use of the invention will be readily understood. Whole cigaretts 8 are stored in the compartment 'I and when a smoker desires to smoke only a half or other portion of a cigato cut oil' the portion of the cigarette inserted through the opening 5 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 and designated l1, the cut-off portion falling into the compartment 9 for storage and leaving a portion for smoking corresponding to either half of a cigarette or any other desired portion thereof.

The foregoing will, it is believed, sumce to impart a. clear understanding of my invention, Without further explanation."V

Manifestly, the invention, as described. is

susceptible of modification, without departing reserved to such modifications as fall within the 1 scope of the appended claim.

Having described my invention, what. is claimed as new is:

A pocket cigarette case of rectangular crosssection for fitting flat in a pocket comprising anAk 4 erative cutter blade pivoted on the underside of said cover for swinging across said opening to cut off the part of the cigarette inserted into the container, said cover having one end extended out of the container and cover for grasping to manipulate said blade, said container having a recess in the top edge thereof in which said blade is adapted to be swung below the cover to provide for the cover fitting fiat against the top of the container, said cover having a side slot therein out of which said end of the knife blade extends, and which limits swinging of said blade.

GILBERT THOSTENSON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 334,405 Alden Jan. 19, 1886 515,219 Roon 1 Mar. 13, 1906 1,858,199 De Maziroi May 10, 1932 2,491,958 Dunn v Dec. 20, 1949 

